Former LAPD officer a suspect in Irvine double murder

Undated photo of Chris Dorner taken from his Facebook account. (facebook.com)

February 6, 2013 12:00:00 AM PST

By David Ono and Rob Hayes

IRVINE, Calif. --

Eyewitness News has learned a former LAPD officer has been named a suspect in the double-murder of a Cal State Fullerton basketball coach and her USC security guard fiancé in Irvine.

Keith Lawrence, 27, and Monica Quan, 28, were found fatally shot in Lawrence's car in the parking lot of their apartment complex in Irvine Sunday.

In a news conference Wednesday night, Irvine Police identified the suspect as Christopher Jordan Dorner, a former LAPD officer and Navy reservist.

Dorner's whereabouts were unknown. His last known address was on Sharon Drive in La Palma. He is believed to be driving a blue Nissan Titan pickup truck, California license plate 7X03191.

He is considered armed and dangerous.

Dorner, 33, is described as an African-American man standing 6 feet tall, weighing 270 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. If seen, call 911.

Police said Dorner wrote a multi-page manifesto in which he implicated himself. Authorities said Dorner appears to have murdered Quan in an act of revenge against her father, Randy Quan, a former LAPD officer who retired and became an attorney.

Court documents obtained by Eyewitness News show that in August 2007, Dorner made a complaint against his field training officer accusing her of kicking a suspect. However, the LAPD Board of Rights found Dorner's complaint to be false and terminated his employment for making a false statement. The attorney representing Dorner was Randy Quan.

In the manifesto obtained by Eyewitness News, Dorner says he has other targets, including commanding officers within the LAPD. In response, the LAPD deployed its elite Metropolitan Division officers to protect certain personnel and their families.

"I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty," the manifesto says.

"You may have the resources and manpower but you are reactive and predictable ... I have the strength and benefits of being unpredictable, unconventional, and unforgiving," it goes on to say. Dorner also threatens to kill any officer who attempts to arrest him.

Dorner also provides a glimpse into why he may have acted out: "I've lost a relationship with my mother and sister because of the LAPD. I've lost a relationship with close friends because of the LAPD. In essence, I've lost everything because the LAPD took my name and new (sic) I was INNOCENT!!!"

In a statement, the LAPD said, "The Department has learned that Christopher Dorner has made threats against members of the LAPD and we are taking those threats very seriously as we do all threats against our personnel and the public."

The LAPD confirmed that Dorner worked as one of its police officers from February 2002 to September 2008 and that his employment was terminated.

The bodies of Quan and Lawrence were found slumped in a vehicle on the top floor of a parking garage in Irvine on Sunday night. A passerby made the discovery around 9:10 p.m. at the parking structure of an apartment complex on the 2100 block of Scholarship.

Lawrence and Quan graduated from Concordia University in Irvine, where they both played basketball. Lawrence graduated with a business administration degree, while Quan received a master's degree in coaching and athletic administration. She was in her second season as an assistant coach for women's basketball at Cal State Fullerton. Lawrence started working as a public safety officer with USC in August.

According to Irvine Police Chief Dave Maggard, several law enforcement agencies are helping in the case, including the LAPD, FBI and U.S. Marshals.

Dorner's neighbors said they were shocked to hear the news. They described him and his family as friendly.

Anyone with information on Dorner's whereabouts was asked to contact Irvine police at (949) 724-7000 or ipdcrimetips@cityofirvine.org.